Two Under transfer Preempt: Bridge Bidding Convention

Two-Under Transfer Preempt

This method was devised by Mr. Marty Bergen together with Mr. Larry Cohen and the convention uses a Preemptive Opening as an artificial Preempt at the Two Level and also at the Three Level and higher to indicate a specific suit two ranks higher than the bid suit. This convention allows the responder to use the intermediate suit for an attempt at game. If the opener has minimum values, then he will make the cheapest possible bid over the game invitation. If the opener has maximum values, then he will make a higher bid, thereby giving the necessary information about his distribution. It also allows the opener to show minimum values for his preempt, and in this fashion, both can stop the auction before going overboard. If the opener has more than just minimal values, both players can have the possible advantage of making the stronger hand the declarer. If the responder also has no desire to bid game, then the responder simply bids the suit indicated by the Two-Under Transfer Preempt. In explaining the convention it must be kept in mind that both players do not surrender the Strong Two Club Artificial Bid. 2 remains strong. This means that a bid of 2 is therefore a natural bid.

The preemptive bids are:

2 - shows a Weak Two Bid in Spades
2 - shows a 3-Level Preempt in Clubs
2NT - shows a 3-Level Preempt in Diamonds
3 - shows a 3-Level Preempt in Hearts
3 - shows a 3-Level Preempt in Spades
3 - shows a 4-Level Preempt in Clubs
3NT - shows a 4-Level Preempt in Diamonds

A bid of 3 is not included. This bid is used to show a distributional hand that could/would be opened with a Gambling 3NT bid, a hand with a long solid minor suit and no outside Aces or Kings. There are some partnerships which have decided not to use the 2NT opening bid as a Diamond Preempt. The preference is that this bid should be a natural bid indicating a normal 2NT opening bid. Let us assume the following two hands with distribution.

Spade QJ108743 Heart 7 Diamond 97 Club 976

Spade KQ109643 Heart 64 Diamond K96 Club 4

These two hands would normally be opened with a Preemptive Bid of 3, promising five or six Quick Tricks. However, it is noted that the two hands are distinctly different in their playing ability and strength. For the responder, it will be pure guesswork, if the opener begins the bidding with a Spade Preempt on the Three Level. On the other hand, if the opener uses the Two-Under Transfer Preempt of 3 to show length in Spades, the responder has then the chance to bid 3, if the responder wishes to invite to 4. This bid is considered forcing. It has been proven that it is more prudent to transfer to the stronger hand or to the hand with the greater length over and over again. This is the great advantage of the Transfer bid, that the lead might come up to a possible tenace position, thereby giving the declarer an additional trick. As with all conventions, a system must be worked out for the responder. The responder must be in the position to describe his hand also. The responder must be able to make a forcing bid in order to gain more information from his partner.

Following are the bids for the opener, whose partner has made a forcing bid.

The Rebid Pattern for the opener after opener has opened the bidding with 2 and partner has responded 2, which is a Forcing Bid are:

2 - shows minimum
2NT - shows maximum with 3-4 Hearts
3 - shows maximum with a 5-card Spade suit
3 - shows maximum with a weak 6-card Spade suit
3 - shows maximum with a moderate 6-card Spade suit
3 - shows maximum with a good 6-card Spade suit
3NT - shows a solid 6-card Spade suit

If the opener rebids 2NT, the responder has the option of bidding 3 to further investigate the accurate Major suit distribution of the opener. The rebids of the opener, to describe his hand further, follow.

3 - distribution = 5 Spades and 3 Hearts
3 - distribution = 5 Spades and 4 Hearts
3 - distribution = 6 Spades and 3 Hearts
3NT - distribution = 6 Spades and 4 Hearts

If the opener bids a Three Level Preempt in Clubs and/or Diamonds, the responder again has the option of making a one-round forcing bid. The opener must describe his distribution further. This he can do by means of the following bids.

3 - minimum
3 - shows a maximum with a 4-card Major
3 - shows a maximum with 3 Spades
3 - shows a maximum with 3 Hearts
3NT - shows a maximum with no 3 or 4-card Major

If the opener rebids 3, the responder has the option of bidding 3 to ask the opener which Major suit he has. The opener bids 3 to show a 4-card Heart suit and 3NT to show a 4-card Spade suit.

If the opener has opened the bidding with 2 or 2NT to transfer to Clubs and Diamonds respectively, the responder can bid 3 to invite to game. In this case, the rebids of the opener are as follows, which describe his hand further.

3 - minimum
3 - shows a maximum with a 3 or 4 Spade suit
3 - shows a maximum with a 3 or 4 Heart suit
3NT - shows a maximum with no 3 or 4-card Major

If the opener preempts with an opening of 3, transferring to Hearts, the responder can bid 3 to invite to game, and this is a forcing bid. The opener can further describe his hand in the following manner.

3 - minimum
3 - shows a maximum with a 6-card Heart suit
3NT - shows a maximum with a 7-card Heart suit

If the opener preempts with an opening of 3, transferring to Spades, the Responder can bid 3 to invite to game, and this is a forcing bid. The opener can further describe his hand in the following manner.

3 - minimum
3NT - shows a maximum with a 6-card Spade suit
4 - shows a maximum with a 7-card Spade suit

If the opener preempts on the Four Level with 3, indicating Clubs, the responder can bid 3 to invite to game. In this case, the responses are:

3NT - shows a minimum
4 - shows a maximum

If the opener has a minimum, responder can stop at 3NT. If the opener, however, shows a maximum, then the bidding becomes a little risky, but since the preempt is in Clubs, the responder can use his judgment to decide whether to pass 4 or to chance a 5 contract based upon his strength, length and distribution. The possibility of a slam is not ruled out.

If the opener bids 3NT, indicating a Four Level Preempt in Diamonds, the responder can bid 4 to invite to game. The opener then has the possibility of describing his hand further with the following bids. Any bid above 4 then discloses the number of Key Cards he holds.

4 - minimum
4 - maximum, 1 Key Card, without the Queen of diamonds
4 - maximum, 1 Key Card, with the Queen of diamonds
4NT - maximum, 2 Key Cards, without the diamond Queen
5 - maximum, 2 Key Cards, with the diamond Queen

If you wish to make the Two-Under Transfer Preempt a part of your Partnership Agreement, it must be noted that Two-Under Transfer Preempts are considered a super-chart convention. This means that full disclosure must be made to your opponents on your Convention Card.If you wish to include this feature, or any other feature, of the game of bridge in your partnership agreement, then please make certain that the concept is understood by both partners. Be aware whether or not the feature is alertable or not and whether an announcement should or must be made. Check with the governing body and/or the bridge district and/or the bridge unit prior to the game to establish the guidelines applied. Please include the particular feature on your convention card in order that your opponents are also aware of this feature during the bidding process, since this information must be made known to them according to the Laws of Duplicate Contract Bridge. We do not always include the procedure regarding Alerts and/or Announcements, since these regulations are changed and revised during time by the governing body. It is our intention only to present the information as concisely and as accurately as possible.